Located at the east of Luoyang City, White Horse Temple gained a high reputation as the first Buddhist temple in China. Also it is considered to be the birth place of Chinese Buddhism. The glorious history and the high status make it one of the must-see place in Luoyang.

The temple was built in Eastern Han Dynasty in the year of 68. The emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty dispatched several monks to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures. They came back with a white horse carrying Buddhist sutras and Buddhist figures. Then the emperor ordered to built a monastery named White Horse Temple to express his thanks to the monks and their white horse. In Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) Dynasties, the White Horse Temple experienced the reconstruction and extension. Covering an area of about 33 acres, the main halls in the solemn temple such as the Heavenly King Hall, Great Buddha Hall, Hall of Mahavira and Hall of Guidance are really worth a visit.

Main Halls in White Horse Temple
Hall of Heavenly Kings: This hall was originally built in the Yuan Dynasty. In the middle of the hall sits a laughing Buddha - Maitreya. On both sides there stand four majestic 'Celestial Kings', each of which holds a different weapon.

Hall of the Great Buddha: This hall reflects the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In the middle there stands a statue of the Buddhist patriarch - Sakyamuni. On both sides stand two of his disciples. The one with sutra in his hands is the Bodhisattva of Wisdom - Manjusri. The other one is the Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence - Samantabhadra.

Hall of Mahavira: This hall is the most well-decorated hall in the temple. In the middle there stands a two-storey Buddhist shrine enshrine three saints Sakyamuni, Amitabha and the Buddha of Medicine. On both sides stand eighteen arhats.

Hall of Guidance: This is the smallest hall in the temple and in the middle there enshrine the Amitabha Buddha - the Buddha in charge of the Western Paradise. Bodhisattva of Moonlight and the Goddess of Mercy sit on both sides of Amitabha Buddha. Both sculptures were built during the Qing Dynasty and captured in clay.

With the long history of more than 1,900 years, White Horse Temple is well-preserved historic site really worth a visit during the tour in Luoyang.